93 Smith / Benjamin Rees Davies 1822

The Exeter Pocket Journal, later Exeter Journal, was first published in the eighteenth century but did not include a map until the 1816 edition when a map of Devon and Cornwall was included (83). This was replaced in the 1822 edition by a close copy of the Gardner map produced for Charles Smith the same year (91) which may explain the unusual imprint re-sculpsit. The map contains some new information: Plymouth Breakwater is shown and part of the Bude Canal is drawn together with the anticipated line of the Grand Western Canal. The inner border is graduated and broken by Lundy, the north coast and Prawle Point. Various differences to the Gardner map include Dartmoor prisoner of war camp is shown, distances are given to Devonport (not Plymouth), the hundreds are listed and the scale bar is now drawn separately. From the signatures it would appear that Smitth was a local person; the engraver was presumably Benjamin Rees Davies who was registered at various addresses in Compton Street and Brunswick Square between 1813 and 1823. He was born c.1789 in Londn and was an apprentice to John Lodge (52). He died in 1872.1

The Exeter Pocket Journal, became the Exeter Journal between 1822 and 1825, The map was probably included every year but not all journals known are with maps.2Discrepancies regarding signatures and imprint may be a result of old stock being used for later editions.

[2] The Exeter Pocket Journal was presumably produced annually but the Westcountry Studies Library in Exeter has only copies for the years 1830, 1831, 1833, 1835-1837, 1853 and 1854 in addition to those listed above: these copies have no map (and usually no map is called for). Copies for 1825, 1838, 1843-48, 1851, 1852 and 1855 have also been recorded. In 1858 Henry Besley acquired the Journal and introduced a new map.

[3] The 1827 Journal was printed on paper watermarked SC 1825: probably from the company of paper manufacturers Street and Coopers who had premises in South Street, Exeter. A further copy of this map has been tipped in to a copy of Devonshire Scenery; or, Directions for visiting the most picturesque spots on the eastern and southern coast from Sidmouth to Plymouth by A Devonian.